INDIANAPOLIS — John Elway spent his first year as the Broncos’ football operations boss observing, absorbing, interrogating and learning.

Now, Elway is starting to restructure the team’s front office in his image.

Two weeks after he promoted Matt Russell, a former University of Colorado star linebacker, to director of player personnel, Elway made another significant move this week when he brought in a new salary cap director.

The Broncos did not renew the contract of Mike Bluem, their longtime capologist, and replaced him with Mike Sullivan, who oversaw the Octagon Sports agency’s football division and has been negotiating player contracts for the past 25 years.

Bluem had been with the Broncos for 17 seasons, working closely with general managers Ted Sundquist, Jim Goodman and Brian Xanders. Xanders remains the Broncos’ GM.

Bluem had been responsible for negotiating many of the player contracts and overseeing the team’s payroll budget. In some of those contracts, Bluem talked with Sullivan, who will now be negotiating from the other side of the table.

Sullivan is an attorney and certified public accountant who has gained a reputation as a bulldog negotiator. He got his start in the sports business 25 years ago when he hooked up with Leigh Steinberg, who in the 1980s was arguably the highest-profile agent in sports.

Sullivan later created the option bonus — which is really a second signing bonus — and one-time playing-time bonus that are now a common part of the more lucrative NFL contracts, including those for almost every first-round draft pick.

Elway’s apprenticeship reminded him that football operations is not only about a player’s talent but how contract structuring is vital in acquiring that talent.

The move comes as the Broncos held frequent meetings this week on the potential list of unrestricted free agents. The NFL’s 2012 free-agency/trading period is scheduled to begin March 13.

The Broncos are expected to be active in the free-agent market next month. A list of possible NFL free-agent quarterbacks the Broncos might consider signing to back up Tim Tebow: Chris Redman, Shaun Hill, Chad Henne, Vince Young, David Carr, Kevin O’Connell and Josh Johnson.

Elway has stated that Tebow would be the team’s starting quarterback entering 2012 training camp.

Besides a backup quarterback, the Broncos will be looking for players at defensive tackle, cornerback, running back, linebacker, safety, tight end and wide receiver.

Mike Klis was with The Denver Post from Jan. 1, 1998 before leaving in 2015 to join KUSA 9News. He covered the Rockies and Major League Baseball until the 2005 All-Star break, when he was asked to start covering the Broncos.